CINCINNATI -- The Musketeers started the 2012 Atlantic 10 season in dramatic fashion with a 12-6 drubbing of Charlotte Friday afternoon and Hayden Field. With the victory, Xavier improved to 9-15 overall and 1-0 in the A-10. Charlotte fell to 13-13 overall and 1-3 in the conference.

Redshirt-sophomore Vinny Nittoli evened his record at 3-3 on the season as he pitched seven solid innings and gave up just one earned run in the win. Nathan Mutsch and Scott Klever each added a solid inning of relief.

Offensively the Musketeers were led by leadoff man and shortstop Patrick Paligraf as he went 2-for-4 with a RBI and three runs scored. Sophomore second baseman posted three RBI on the day while fellow sophomore Tres Eberhardt and freshman Derek Hasenbeck each scored two runs.

XU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Eberhardt hit an RBI double that plated Paligraf for the first run of the game. Chidemo followed with a two-RBI double to round out the XU scoring.

XU added a run the fourth but busted the game open in the bottom of the sixth with six runs on six hits and two Charlotte errors. Chidemo, Bruening, and Joey Noble each posted an RBI in the inning to extend the Musketeer lead to 10-0.

XU added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to make it a 12-3 ballgame. Charlotte posted three runs in the top of the ninth but it was not enough as XU held on for its second straight win.

Xavier will look to continue the win streak Saturday as the Musketeers and 49ers face off in a 1 p.m. tilt. Saturday's game will be video streamed live at GoXavier.com.